Vigil supporters are disappointed that South Africa is still harping on about removing sanctions at a time when all pressure should be focused on getting intransigent Zanu PF elements to stop impeding the reforms Mugabe signed up to in the Global Political Agreement.

The rationale for their call is obscure. Yes the sanctions are not working because they are not ending human rights abuses for which they were imposed. But do they think that if the sanctions are lifted Zanu PF will suddenly be willing to implement the GPA?

We do not believe this is the case and neither apparently does the MDC’s Treasurer-General Roy Bennett who spoke in an interview on SW Radio Africa (see:http://www.swradioafrica.com/2012/06/15/transcript-of-roy-bennett-on-question-time/ – Transcript of Roy Bennett on Question Time). Roy was asked whether he thought Zanu PF would honour the GPA. He said Zanu PF was divided but those in control were not going to walk away from the immense riches in their hands. He said ‘there is a serious battle ahead for the people of Zimbabwe and at the end of the day it is the people of Zimbabwe that have to stand up and claim their future and claim their rights’.

As to the riches he is talking about, informed sources speak of billions of dollars a year in unaccounted revenue from diamonds and gold.

What we want to hear from the South Africans is not Mugabe propaganda but how exactly they propose to deal with the threatening situation in Zimbabwe, chillingly recounted in Cathy Buckle’s latest letter (Already in the barracks? – http://www.cathybuckle.com/index.php?id=86).

For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website.

·Zimbabwe Action Forum. Saturday 30th June from 6.30 – 9.30 pm. Venue: Strand Continental Hotel (first floor lounge), 143 Strand, London WC2R 1JA. Directions: The Strand is the same road as the Vigil. From the Vigil it’s about a 10 minute walk, in the direction away from Trafalgar Square. The Strand Continental is situated on the south side of the Strand between Somerset House and the turn off onto Waterloo Bridge. The entrance is marked by a big sign high above and a sign for its famous Indian restaurant at street level. It's next to a newsagent. Nearest underground: Temple (District and Circle lines) and Holborn.

·The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.

·ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.